Location:Tualatin, Oregon, United States

Name: Margaret

Week: 12

Personal Info:

I live in an apartment with my cat. We’re in a metropolitan area outside the city, that’s not really suburbia, but not really urban.

Margaret’s personal blog:

Total items: 30

Total weight: 6.1

Items: Recyclable
Curbside Recyclable
*Kiss My Face conditioner used up – I’m now using a solid conditioner from GetLathered on etsy, and really liking it. I previously tried Lush’s Jungle solid conditioner, and it didn’t work for me, but I’d recommend trying it if you’re interested in a solid conditioner.
*Water bottle from Race for the Cure – it seems unavoidable to accept a disposable water bottle after race. The only people I’d feel comfortable imposing on to ask to hold stuff for me during a race are usually running it with me.
*Spreadable cheese container – bought for a game night – I had made hummus but didn’t know if it was any good, so bought this as a backup.

Other recyclable
*Yes to Tomatoes facial moisturizer used up
*Bubble wrapper – from an etsy purchase

Items: Nonrecyclable
*2 straws – I haven’t quite established the habit of declining a straw when I order a drink. Maybe if I bought a reusable one, carrying it around would remind me.
*Zip tie from Race for the Cure – to attach reusable timing chip to shoelaces
*So Delicious ice cream bar wrapping from Race for the Cure post-race event
*Wrapping from box of tea – purchased pre-challenge
*Window from a paper bread bag
*Shrink wrap packaging from Desert Essence soap – I’m going to write the company about the packaging. I tried this in lieu of their liquid face wash, and it works just as well. No reason it couldn’t be packaged in cardboard, though.
*Shrink wrap packaging from something – if I can’t remember what it was even a week later, how important could whatever it was actually be?
*Subway drink lid = lazy week cooking-wise
*Hot-drink paper cup lid – all the drinks we saw walking into the cafe were in mugs, so I’m not sure why my hot chocolate and my friend’s chai tea were served in disposable cups.
*Lid seal ring from coconut-milk ice cream
*Torn nylon knee-high
*Small sample spoon – from VegFest. I didn’t have time to go to any of the speakers or cooking demos, but just walked around the booths. One of the non-dairy ice creams was the only thing that seemed worth taking a plastic spoon for.
*3 produce stickers and twist ties
*Fruit leather wrapper – using up pre-challenge bulk purchase
*2 Luna Bar wrappers
*Pop 6-pack rings
*Wrapping from Deep Sleep supplement – liquid in a glass jar with a plastic lid/dropper. It seems to be somewhat helpful.
*2 size stickers and price tag fasteners
*Pasta box window
*Pop Chips bag

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
Slowly finding good replacements for toiletries. Won’t need to buy liquid conditioner again.

Moisturizer – I’m experimenting with coconut oil, but my face is acne-prone and finicky, so it’s not really working well. Tonight I bought Zia oil-free moisturizer, in a glass bottle with just a plastic pump. It’s really expensive, so it’d better work!

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
Desert Essence soap – it has an alternative in that I can lobby the company to change its packaging, but unavoidable in that it’s the only product for my face that’s best for my face with minimal plastic.

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?

What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
Picking up dinner at Subway.

I will order a reusable straw.

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?